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- Lana (French) Colvin, the daughter of Lulu Belle (Dewing) and Charles W.French, was born 8 July, 1879 at Egan, Moody County, Dakota Territory. She had an older sister, Lulu, and a younger brother, Victor. The family lived on the prairie near Egan for about four years. During this time the mother and children were alone much of the time. About the only visitors were Indians who would stop by expecting a meal even though there was little to eat. However, before long they would be back with fresh game for their hostess. Prairie fires were a terror for settlers. One time a fire headed for the house where the Frenches lived. The mother took the children and wrapped them all in wet blankets and laid down directly in front of the flames.The fire quickly went over them without doing any harm to them. In 1883 the French family moved to Wyoming Territory by covered wagon and mule team. They settled near their former neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Hulett, who had come to Wyoming in 1880 from Egan, Dakota Territory. Incidents of the journey as remembered by a little girl - The family had camped near a creek one evening with water only in the holes and Lana and Lulu went to wash their hands and faces in a nearby hole. Lana started to slip into the water, she grabbed onto Lulu and both girls fell into the water. Lana managed to get out and ran to the wagon all wet. Fortunately Lulu was rescued and all ended well. Another incident happened when the wagon tipped over going up a steep bank after crossing the belle Fourche River. A pail fell over Lana’s head and she was almost smothered before it was removed. Living in a tent, then a log house was different then living in a sod house in Dakota. Dirt didn't’t keep falling into everything. Other settlers soon began to arrive with large herds of cattle and, of course, cowboys. Entertainment consisted primarily of the Saturday night square dances. Many rode twenty to thirty miles on horseback and stayed all night. There were very few young ladies and many cowboys so the ladies did not lack escorts. The gentlemen furnished the saddle horses. The ladies wore long divided riding skirts and rode side saddle. Some of the settlers who were arriving were J.C. Ryan, Leander Ripley, Moore, Storms, Cunningham, and George and Ed Barnard. Ed later was shot by a 'D' ranch cowboy. On 9 April, 1899, Lana and Ben P. Colvin were married at his homestead in Red Canyon by the Reverend J.S.F. Wood. Those attending the wedding were her mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Ruland, and their son Dillon, Victor French, Ernest and Walt Willson, Mrs. Ella Pollock and Mrs. Sanderson of Deadwood, South Dakota. Lana Colvin became a charter member of the Beaver Creek Homemakers Club in July 1935 with eighteen members. Lana was always willing to lend her services to either relatives or neighbors in case of sickness or whenever help in any way was needed. She spent her life helping others. At the present time, 1978, Lana is living in the Dorsett Home in Spearfish, South Dakota. She will celebrate her ninety-ninth birthday this summer (1981). More on the life of Ben and Lana Colvin can be found in the history of Ben Pollock Colvin. Ben and Lana were parents of two daughters, Marjorie Ann, born 24 December, 1903, and Mildred, born 24 October, 1905. This account is listed on page 118 and 119 of the book - Pioneers of Crook County 1876-1920, by Crook County Historical Society, Crook County,Wyoming, copyright 1981.
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1879 - 1980 (100 years)
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